A program recognizing and providing benefits to some carriers is being discontinued.
The Oregon Department of Transportation's Trusted Carrier Partner program will be discontinued on Jan. 1 due to "budget reductions", according to a statement from the department.
The program provided qualifying carriers with:
- Weigh station preclearance privileges
- Waiver of bond requirement
- Only subject to probable cause safety inspections
- Only subject to probable cause safety compliance reviews
- Inclusion on ODOT’s Trusted Carrier Partner Roster
The program allowed motor carriers to receive a special plate to display on their vehicles based on their operational history. Plates that have been previously issued under the program do not need to be removed or returned. Plates that remain on vehicles after the discontinuation date will no longer be operational.
Regional emergency declared for four eastern states
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently announced a regional emergency declaration in response to severe winter weather in New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
The Dec. 12 declaration waives the maximum driving time hours-of-service regulation for truck drivers transporting heating fuel, including propane, natural gas, and heating oil.
Motor carriers and truck drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in the affected states are granted relief through Dec. 26, or until the end of the emergency, whichever is earlier.
AAT Carriers honored
AAT Carriers, a Covenant Logistics Group company, has been awarded the 2025 NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award by the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA). This honor is presented annually to NDTA corporate members that demonstrate exceptional service and meaningful contributions to the Association’s mission of advancing global transportation, logistics, and national defense readiness.
The NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award recognizes companies that actively support NDTA’s goals through consistent engagement in local chapter activities, participation in national committees, and involvement in NDTA-hosted forums, conferences, and professional development events. AAT Carriers was selected for its long-standing partnership with the defense logistics community and its continued support of NDTA’s mission across multiple levels of the organization.
“We are deeply honored to receive the NDTA Corporate Distinguished Service Award,” said Kevin Gaither, vice president and general manager of AAT Carriers. “This award reflects the dedication of our entire team — drivers, operations staff, and support personnel — who demonstrate professionalism and readiness in everything they do. Supporting NDTA’s mission and the broader defense community is central to who we are as an organization.”
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